Method of and apparatus for atomizing and burning fuel oil



Dec. 18 1%23. 11,478,255

E. A. REID METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR ATOMIZING AND BURNING FUEL OIL Filed Feb. 2. 1922 2 5h@ets-=-$heet 1 Dec. 18 T1923. 11 478255 v E. A. REv

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR ATOMIZING AND BURNING FUEL OIL Filed Feb. 2. 1922 a Sheets-Sheet 2 g O0 OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO 0000 O0 000 00 0O 0O 00 O\7000 O0 000 15 Fly, 4 0

n nnns'r ANDREW nan); or onnon', ENGLAND.

Marne]: or an]: Aryan-arcs ron aromzrir's am) BURNING FUEL OIL.

Application med; February}, 1922 Serial No. 533,645.

7 '0 all whom it mag concern Be it known that I, ERNEST ANDREW REID, subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at London, En land, have invented a certain new and usef Method of and Apparatus for Atomizing and Burning Fuel Oil, of which the following is a specification.

This inventionrelates to an improved method of and apparatus for atomizing and burning fuel oil, which is particularly suitable for burning heavy crude oils.

One difliculty'in atomizing fuel oil which has been encountered, is thechoking up or clogging of the small bores of the atomizing nozzles generally'used. Among-the objects of this invention is to produce an oil burner of simple construction in which the possi bilities of interruption through clogging or choking are entirely eliminated, and with which perfect difl usionand combustion of the fuel is obtained. The invention, while particularly applicable for the thorough atomization, of viscous oils, is not however,

limited to atomizing heavy crude oils or oils of high viscosity.

According to the invention, the fuel oil is converted into a film or thin layer, which is allowed to fall over a lip, and is atomized by a'p'lurality of converging'jets of steam under pressure or com' ressed air, by'which complete diffusion an vaporization of the fuel is obtained. The invention also consists in an apparatus having an oil supply pipe or the like, a. distributin surface over which the oil'is spread in a fi m, and a plurality of, converging steam or compressed air jets adapted to atomize the film or thin curtain of oil as it falls from the distributing surface in front of the jets.

A particularly effective apparatus consists of .a casing, which is preferably a one-piece casting, divided into an upper distributing chamber over the fioor of which the oil is spread in a film, and a lower steam chamber. The floor of the distributing chamber is provided with a lip over which the oil falls curiain-wise in front of a plurality of jets of steam under pressure or compressed air emerging from orifices in the frontof the lower chamber and arranged to converge forwardly in pairs.

The invention will now be described with reference to theaccompanying drawings,

'as seen: from below, showing the paths and points of intersection of the, converging pairs of jets delivered from the orifices in the respective rows;

Fig. 6 is a portion on a much enlarged scale of the plate as seen from below in section on the line of the lower row of orifices. The body of the atomizer illustrated in the drawings is fan-shaped in plan, and comprises preferabl a one-piece casting having an upper distributin chamber 1- with an open front end, into w ich chamber oil is supplied through the opening 2 tapped to receive a pipe connection. The top 1" of the chamber 1 maybe arched, as shown in Fig. 2. 3 is the lower chamber, into which steam under pressure or compressed air is introduced through the opening 4. p

5 is a partition that separates the two chambers 1 and 3; and its upper surface forms a distributing surface to spread the incoming oil. This distributing, upper surface of the partition 5 is preferably. horizontal below the opening or port 2, as indicated at 6, and then slopes downwards and forwards. It terminates at the delivery end in a lip 7 which iniclines downwards more sharply than the tions, which commence at the horizontal-'1 art 6 of the surface. gradually become wlder and flatter as they extend down towards the lower or delivery end of the-surface, and

- be formed in a front wall of the chamber 3 finally disappear a short distance above the lip'7, asshown.

The grooving instead of being longitudinal could be transverse or otherwise, so as.

to act to delay the oil flow and obtain a more efiective. distribution and heating the oil. The upper surface of the partition may advantageously be transversely cambered and transversely grooved, the ooves being deepeston the. median line of t e surface and becoming shallower towards the sides.

The front wall of the chamber 3 that receives the atomizing fluid is provided, below and at the rear of the'overhanging lip 7, with a series of orifices 10. Theseare arranged to converge in pairs so as to deliver jets towards points 11 which are approximately vertically beneath the edge of the lip 7 as clearly shown in Fig. 3. These orifices may integral with the body of the atomizer, but

- in the preferred construction the orifices 10 are formed in a separate late 12, bolted on by bolts 18 to the open front ofthe chamber3. The top of this orifice-plate 12 takes into a recess 13 in a thickened part 13 on .the lower side of the forward end of the partition 5. The bolt-holes in the plate 12 coincide, of course, with.a corresponding tapped holes 14 in thickened parts or bosses 15 in the front of the body casting. Jointing material 16 is used to ensure a steamtight joint. This provision of a removal orifice plate is very convenient for purposes of repairor renewal.

fln Figs. 1 -3 the orifices are arranged in a single row. It is, however. preferred to provide a double row of orifices. In some cases even three rows are necessary where very thick oils are used. In Figs. 445 T illustrate an orifice plate having the orifices arranged in two horizontal rows, the pairs of converging orifices in the respective rows being arranged in staggered relationship. In Fig. 'dthe orifices of the lower row are shown in full lines, while the orifices in the upper row are indicated by broken lines. Fig. 5 shows the convergence of the pairs of jets totheir points of in tersection 11, through which. points the oil film falls.

17 is an opening in the bottom wall 3 of the chamber 3 for the reception of a cock for draning ofi" condensed steam when steam is use The atomizer maybe tan-shaped in plan, as shown, and this form is especially a for wide fire-box boilers. This burner increases the life of the fire-brick bees, tube plate and walls of the firebox, owin. to the practically perfect difiusion of the uel which is the result of the disintegration of a dropping film of oil, and the resultant sheet-torm fiame b not the destructive etaptneraaae fects ofthe concentrated or jet flame. If

desired however theapparatus instead of being fan-shaped, may be of a rectangular or other suitable form, which may be especially adapted for use in cases where the burner has to operate in a narrow fire-box,

such as the flue of a Lancashire or Cornish or marine'boiler.

In operation, the 011 supplied to the cham-g her 1 through the opening 2 spreads out over the floor of the chamber 3, the area of in front of the orifices 10 in the form of a,

thin curtain of a lengthcorresponding practically to the length of the lip. Steam under pressure or compressed air fromdahe chamber' 3-emerges as converging jets from the pairs of orifices 10, which .jets break up against each other at their points of intersection on the line 11, and produce there. a region of turmoil through which the film of oil falls, whereby the disruption and complete atomization of the falling oil film are effected. By the described arrangement of the converging orifices in relation to the falling film of oil the most effective atomization is obtained.

In the case of very viscous oils, the

spreading of the oil upon the floor of the oil-distributing chamber 3 is materially assisted by the heatin due to the steam; and no matter howthic the oil, it flows freely over the floor and out over the lip. This design of burner which incorporates a steam jacket below the chamber through which the fuel oil passes ensures an even flow of the oil even ,in the coldest of weathers. Of course. the oil may be preheated, if desired, before it is taken to the atomizer.

The apparatus ensures adequate atomization and diffusion of the oil, which, having been converted into a film or thin layer. becomes disintegrated and difiused as-it falls in front of the atomizing jets of steam or compressed air. Thus the oil is put into a good condition for combustion. 'Combustion takes place in the form of an evenly distributed sheet-flame across the whole width of the firebox, whereby the heat is thoroughly well and efiiciently distributed, and the deteriorating efiect of a concentrated fiame of the jet type is avoided, with a correspondingimprovcnt in its effective heating capacity.-

It will be seen that the apparatus is. an extremely simple and inexpensive one to manufacture, and there are no complicated fittings to get out of order. There is no possibility of clogging, andv of course the atomiz ing orifices are kept clean naturally.

The device is adaptable for any heatingv service required even, when using the heavi:

increase 1. The method of atomizing fuel oil,

which consists in distributing the oil in the form of a film and causing it to fall as a thin curtain ii? front of a plurality of con verging jets o 1 atomizing fiuid under pres sure. 4 2. The method of atomi'zing fuel oil, which consists in distributing the oil in the form of a film, heating the oil while in the form of a film, and causing this heated of oil to fall as a thin curtain in front of a plurality of converging jets of atomizing fluid under pressure.

3(An apparatus for atomizing fuel 011, comprising a chamber; means for supplying the oil thereto; a surface on which the oil is spread in a film, a lip over which the oil'film can fall, and a plurality of orifices below and behind said lip forwardly con verging towards points approximately vertical beneath the edge of sa 1d lip, through which orifices jets of atomizing fiuid under pressure are deliveredto atomize the filmrot oil falling upon the points of intersection of said jets.

d. An apparatus for atomizing fuel 011,

comprising a chamber; means for supplying the oil thereto: a surface on which the oil is spread in a film; a lip over which the oil can fall; and a plurality of orifices below and behind the said lip forwardly con verging in pairs towards points approximately vertical beneath the edge of said lip, through which orifices jets of atomizing fiuid under pressure are delivered to atomize the film of oil falling upon the points of intersection of said converging jets.

5. An apparatus for atomizing fuel oil,

comprising a chamber; means for supplying the oil thereto; a surface on which the incoming oil spreads in a film; a lip over which the oil can an in a thin curtain; and aplurality of horizontal rows or orifires which are arranged; in pairs forwardly converging towards points approximately vertically beneath the edge of the said lip,

the orifices in the respective rows beingdisposed in staggered relationship.

6. An apparatus for atomizingfuel oil comprising an upper and a lower chamber; means for supplying the oil to the, upper chamber and steam under pressure or compressed air to the lower chamber; a fioor on which the oil is distributed as a fi; a lip at the edge of said fioor over which the oil film can fall as a thin curtain and a plurality of converging orifices in the front of the lower chamber below and behind the lip, through which orifices, jets of steam under pressure or compressed air are delivered to atomize the falling curtain of oil.

7., An apparatus for atomizing fuel oil comprising an upper and a lower chamber; means for supplying the oil to the upper chamber and steam under ressure or compressed air to the lower 0 amber; a door on which the oil is distributed as a film; a

lip at the edge of said floor over which the oil. film can fall as a thin curtain; and a plurality of orifices forwardly converging in pairs towards points approximately vertically beneath the edge of the said lip, through which orifices ets of steam under pressure or compressed air are delivered to atomize the falling curtain of oil.

8. An apparatus for atomizing fuel oil comprising an upper and a lower chamber; means for supplying the oil to the upper chamber and steam under pressure or compressed air to the lowerchamber; a grooved inclined floor oncwhich the oil is distributed as a film; a li at the edge of said.

floor over which the oil film can fall as a thin curtain; and a plurality of convergiiig orifices in the front of the lower chamber below and behind the lip, through which orifices, jets of steam under pressure or compressed air are delivered to atomize the falling curtain of oil.

9.'An apparatus for atomizing fuel oil, comprising an u per chamber with an open trout; a lower c amber means for supply ing oil to the upper chamber and steam under ressure or compressed airto the lower c amber; a partition sepa-ratingthe said chambers and having a transversely cambered surface on which the incoming oil spreads as a film; transverse grooves on said surface, said grooves being deepest on the median line and becoming shallower towards each side; a lip at the front of said partition having a sharp downward curve; and a plurality of orifices in the front of the lower chamberforwardly converging in pairs towards points approximately vertically beneath the edge of said lip, through which orifices atomizing jets are delivered to atomize the thin curtain of oil falling front of said partition having a sharp downward curve; and a plurality of converging orifices inthe front ofthe lower chamber belowrand behind the lip adapted to deliver till atomizing jets of steam under pressure or compressed air against a "thin curtain of oil falling in front. of said jets.

11. An apparatus for atomizing' fuel oil comprising an upper chamber with an open front; a lower chamber;'means. for supplying oil to the upper' chamber and steam under pressure or compressed air to the lower chamber; a partition separating the said chambers and having'an upper surface on which the incoming oil distributes itself .as a. film; alternating grooves and ribs "on or compressed air to the lower chamber; a

partition separating the said chambers and having an upper surface on which the oil spreads-as a film, grooves on said distributing surface; a lip at the front'deliv'ery edge of said partition over which the oil can fall as a thin curtain, and a plurality of converg ing orifices in the front ofthe lower chamber below and behind the said lip adapted to deliver atomizing jets against the thin curtain of oil falling in front of said jets.

13. An apparatus for atomizing fuel oil, comprising a casting having an upper chamher with an open front end; a lower chamber; means for supplying the fuel oil to the upper chamber and steam under pressure or compressed air to the lower chamber; a partition separating the said chambers and having a downwardly sloping upper surface on which the oil spreads as a film; cor rugations on said distributing surface consisting of alternating grooves and ribs; a lip at the front delivery edge of said partition havinga shar'per'downward curve; and a plurality of orifices in the front of the lower chamber convergingin pairs towards points approximately vertically beneath the edge of said lip andadapted to deliver converging atomizing jets against the thin curtain of oil falling vertically over the lip in front of said jets.

14. An apparatus for :atomizing fuel oil, comprising an upper chamber open at the front end; a lbwer chamber; means for supplying oil to the upper'chamber and atomizing fluid under pressure to the lower chain her; a partition separating the said chambers, the upper surface of which forms a distributing surface on which the oil spreads as a film; a lip'at the delivery edge of said partition over which the oil can fall as a neraaee supplying oil to the upper chamber and atomizing fluid under pressure to the lower chamber; a partition separating the said chambers, the upper surface-of which forms a distributing surface on which the oil" spreads as a film; a lip at the delivery edge of said partition over which the oil can fall bar both fan' shaped in plan; means for I as a thin curtain; and a removable plate containing a plurality of converging pairs of atomizing orifices, said plate being adapted to be fastened to the frontend of the lower chamber below and behind. the lip.. 16. An apparatus for atomizing fuel oil comprising an upper chamber open at the front end; a lower chamber; means for supplying oilto the upper chamber and atomizing fluid under pressure to the lower chamber; partition separating the said chambers the upper surface of which forms a distributing surface onwhich the oil spreads as. a film, alternating grooves and ribs on. said surface; a lip at the lower edge of said partition having a sharp downward curve over which-the oil can fall as a thin curtain; and areniovable plate secured to thefront open end of the lower chamber and containing a plurality of rows of staggered orifices forwardly converging in pairs and adapted to deliver converging jets against thethin curtain of oil'fallingfin front of said jets.

17. An apparatus for atomizing fuel oil, comprising an upper and lower chamber fan-shaped in plan me'ans for supplying oil to the upper chamber Bandatomizing separating the said chambers the upper surface of which forms a distributing surface on which the oils reads as afilm; corrugations on said-distributing surface consistingof-alternating grooves and ribs which gradually become wider and flatter towards their lower end, a lip at the lower-end of, said fluid to the lower chamber; an inclined partition partition having a shaper downward curve over which the oil can fall as a thin curtain; and. a: removable plate secured V to the front open end of the lower chamber and containing a plurality of. orifices forwardly converging in pairs and adapted to deliver converging jets against the thin curtain of oil falling in front of said jets.

18. An apparatus-for atomizing fuel oil, comprising a casting having an upper chamber with an open front end; a lower chamher with an open front end; means for supplying oil to the upper chamber and steam under pressure or 'compressed air to the lower chamber; a psirtition separating the twochambers, the upper surface of which forms distI tibuting surface on which the oil spreads as a film; alternating grooves and ribs on said distributing surface; a downwardly curved lip at the lower end of said partition over which lip the oil falls as a thin curtain in advance of the front of the lower chamber; a recess on the under side of said lip; a thickened part on the lower side near the front of said partition; a transverse slot in said thickened part; a plurality of bosses on the front open end of the lower chamber; a removable plate the top of which takes into the said transverse slot and the lower part of which is bolted to the bosses on the front of the lower chamber; and a plurality of converging pairs of orifices in said plate adapted to deliver atomizing jets against the oil curtain falling in front of said jets.

19. An apparatus for atomizing fuel oil, comprising a casting having'upper and lower open-fronted chambers, the floors of which are fan-shaped in plan; means for supplying oil to the upper chamber and steam or compressed air to the lower chamber; a downwardly inclined fan-shaped partition separating the two chambers the upper surface of which forms a distributing surface on which the oil spreads as a the front of said partition; a transverse slot in said thickened part; a plurality of bosses on the front end of the lower chamber; a

removable plate transversely curved to the radius of the front of the lower chamber, the topof which plate takes into the said transverse slot and the lower part of which is bolted to the said bosses and a plurality of converging pairs of orifices in said plate adapted to deliver atomizing jets against the oil curtain falling in front of the said jets.

signed my name this 20th day of December 1921, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ERNEST ANDREW REID. Witnesses:

J OHN MCLACHLAN, HILDA STERK.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto 

